06162021 – Mark4.26-34 How would YOU describe the Kingdom of God? The first comment I have to make, is with regard to the change – from “Kingdom of God” to “Kingdom of Heaven.” Mark talks about the “Kingdom of God.” Matthew never does. And never would. God’s name is too holy. […]
06162021 – Mark 4. 26-34 Our world is changing…constantly in- flux, as you well know. The values of yesterday ARE NOT the values of today. And the values of today will in all likely-hood, NOT be the values of tomorrow. We shake our heads at the generations coming up…And TO BE FAIR, the […]
06132021 – Mark 4. 26-34 Remember, Mark is the first Gospel to be written. Yeah, I know Matthew comes first in the order of the Gospels…weird, right? But that’s because Matthew is being written for a Jewish audience. It is the most Hebraic of the four gospels. As a matter of fact, […]
06122021 – Mark 4. 26-34 I DO NOT expect you to sit on the edge of your seats…NOR do I expect you to be “WOWED,” but this is the ONLY PARABLE that is found in Mark ALONE. Most people DO NOT know THAT, now YOU DO. I am sure it is probably earth shaking and […]
O6052021 – Mark 3. 20-35 This is “a literary style.” It has been called by various names. “BOOK ENDS” or “SANDWICHING” comes to mind. It begins with Jesus’ family coming to “RESTRAIN him.” But “that story” is interrupted by still ANOTHER STORY about some SCRIBES coming down from Jerusalem. And then, ultimately, we […]
03032021 – Mark 8. 31-38 In a lot of ways Peter is us and we are Simon Peter. The guy is so easy to relate to. Peter could be clueless. He DID NOT know everything. I will be the first to admit it and acknowledge it, I am clueless about a great many […]
O2272021 – Mk 8.31-38 Lent 2B The disciples and those people listening to Jesus… Would have heard “things” differently than WE DO TODAY. When JESUS spoke about “taking up your cross, and following him,” they knew EXACTLY what he was referring to… Their IMAGES would have been engrained in their “collective consciousness.” “NEVER FORGET” […]
02242021 – Mk 1. 9-15 Harry Eugene Roach Sr. or “Hal,” as he was better known…was an “American FILM and TELEVISION PRODUCER,” a “DIRECTOR,” “ACTOR,” “STUDIO EXECUTIVE,” who was the founder of his namesake “Hal Roach Studios” in Culver City, California. The 14.5-acre studio was called “THE LOT of FUN!” In the […]
02202021 – Mark 1. 9-15 REPENT is the “OPERATIVE WORD” for this First Sunday in Lent. REPENT does not mean “breast-beating and lamentation.” NO tears. NO drama. NO crying out to God. No sobbing. No tears of remorse. It literally means to re-THINK; to put some QUIET TIME aside; to STOP; to […]
01302021 – Mark 1. 21-28 Epiphany IV NO ONE can silence gossip, NOT EVEN Jesus. People LOVE to talk. We love to talk ABOUT OTHERS. We love to “STIR THE POT,” as it were. We love talking BEHIND the BACKS of “others.” Often times, saying things, we would never-ever-say-to-THEIR-FACE. AINT WE SOMETHIN”? […]